PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: Liverpool v Manchester United – as it happens from Anfield

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UPDATED:

12:57 GMT, 23 September 2012

Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Barclays Premier League where Liverpool host Manchester United at 1.30pm to start Sunday's action in the first of four fixtures. Kicking off at 3pm is Newcastle v Norwich, while an hour later Manchester City host Arsenal and Tottenham welcome QPR. Send me your thoughts on the action at [email protected] or contact me on Twitter @Ripinho.

Premier League

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Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United (1.30pm)

Manchester City v Arsenal (4pm)

Newcastle v Norwich (3pm)

Tottenham v QPR (4pm)

Click here for the live Premier League table

13.54: From InfostradaLive:

At 17 years and 290 days, Raheem Sterling has become the youngest Liverpool player to play in this PL fixture against Manchester United. The youngest for Liverpool before him was Michael Owen (17 years, 357 days) in a 3-1 loss at Anfield in December 1997.

13.51: The captain soon makes up for it though, launching a long pass into the box that results in Jonny Evans and Daniel Agger tangling inside the area. The home fans scream for a penalty but referee Mark Halsey ignores the claims.

13.50: Gerrard's corners need some work though, as his set-piece is again headed away.

13.47: This is a great opening for the hosts who are preventing Manchester United from seeing any of the ball.

Liverpool playing very much like Swansea did under Brendan Rodgers last season with their silky passing – and that's a positive for them.

13.44: Liverpool are asking all the questions so far, as Suarez threads through Fabio Borini inside the box. The Italian though sees his cross-shot blocked.

13.41: The tempo remains slow but the chances are coming thick and fast. Suarez sees a low shot across goal well parried clear by Anders Lindegaard, while moments later Gerrard fires a pass from a short corner narrowly wide of the keeper's near post.

13.38: Seconds later and United nearly score. Shinji Kagawa squares the ball for Ryan Giggs on the edge of the box, before the midfielder takes a touch and fires just over the crossbar. Pepe Reina looked beaten.

13.37: Liverpool have a good chance to attack as they win a corner, but after Steven Gerrard plays a one-two with Luis Suarez, the former's cross is headed clear.

13.34: Slow start on the pitch but the atmosphere inside the ground is incredible with the home fans especially vocal in their support.

A warm round of applause for Sir Bobby Charlton too, as the former Manchester United midfielder makes his way on to the pitch to hand a floral tribute to ex-Liverpool striker Ian Rush.

13.24: Out come the players to a sea of noise at Anfield – both sides wearing tracksuits with '96' on the back.

13.21: From InfostradaLive:

Ryan Giggs captains the United team. He has played in 36 previous PL matches against Liverpool – more than any other player in this fixture. In total, this will be his 46th meeting with them in all competitions (5 goals). The only club he has faced more often is Arsenal (48 matches).

Open letter: Sir Alex Ferguson called on Manchester United fans to respect the Hillsborough tribute

'We are two iconic clubs with fantastic support and we have an obligation for football as a whole today. There will be no problem with the handshake.'

United manager, Ferguson said: 'I think we have made all the appeals to the fans to respect the situation they find themselves in.

'We are the two biggest and most successful clubs in Britain and we must show our unity. I don't anticipate any problem with the handshake.'

13.11: Before the players make their way out, now is the time to tell you we have three other games on the way today.

At 3pm Newcastle host Norwich, while we have another heavyweight clash at 4pm when champions, Manchester City welcome Arsenal.

Playing a supporting role at the same time is Tottenham v QPR, where Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas will aim to record his first home win.

13.06: Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic is absent for the emotionally-charged clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

The armband is passed to Ryan Giggs, however, and not the Serbian's long-term stand-in last season Patrice Evra.

Liverpool forward Luis Suarez was found guilty of racially abusing Evra on the Frenchman's last visit to this stadium last season, leading to Suarez being banned for eight matches.

All eyes were on whether the pair would shake hands prior to this match, after the Uruguayan refused to do so before the Barclays Premier League meeting between the sides at Old Trafford in February.

Giggs is one of three changes from the midweek Champions League win over Galatasaray with goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard and Rio Ferdinand also returning.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers reverts to his strongest line-up for the visit of Manchester United at Anfield, restoring the starting line-up which drew at Sunderland last weekend having made 11 changes for the Europa League tie against Young Boys in midweek.

Putting rivalry aside: A Manchester United shirt on the gates at Anfield, honouring the victims and supporting the families affected by the Hillborough disaster

13.01: Speaking of Gerrard, the Liverpool skipper has also told team-mate Luis Suarez to shake Patrice Evra's hand before kick-off today – the former of course was charged with racially abusing the latter last season.

I'm not normally that bothered about Player X not shaking Player Y's hand, but on this day of all days I hope the two do not let a personal dispute take over.

12.56: From a Liverpool perspective, Gerrard, whose cousin died in the disaster, has called for an end to the sick chants that go too far, claiming this is a chance to deliver a message to football.

12.46: As mentioned there will be a host of tributes today. Mosaics reading 'The Truth', '96' and 'Justice' will be displayed around the stands, while 96 balloons will be released before kick-off.

It was going to be skippers, Steven Gerrard and Nemanja Vidic releasing the balloons. But the latter's exclusion from the starting line-up for United now means it is set to be Ryan Giggs filling his role.

Tribute: A Liverpool fan pays his respects to the 96 that died at Hillsborough

12.35: Tensions are going to be high for the game between two of football's biggest rivals and some are worried that a minority of Manchester United supporters may attempt to spoil the occasion with anti-Liverpool jibes.

Minority is the key word there. Reflecting on what the majority of Manchester United fans feel today is the club's former right back and Mail on Sunday columnist Gary Neville, who states the rivalry should be cherished but never go beyond the bounds of decency.

12.30: Since the truth was finally released about the Hillsborough disaster last week, football grounds up and down the country have paid their respects the to the 96 Liverpool fans that tragically lost their lives on April 15, 1989.

Today it's Anfield's turn to show their tributes to the supporters that went to a football match and never came home. It's one of the biggest matches in the calender year as Liverpool host Manchester United, but some things are just more important today.

Clash of the titans: Liverpool host Manchester United at Anfield to start Sunday's action